The voice of Dr. G. Frank Burns will be heard around Wilson County for many years to come through all his work with our local newspapers, as a teacher and archivist at Cumberland University and as a friend to everyone who met him. Dr. Burns’ work in co-authoring the “The History of Wilson County” and then doing a second volume years later was a great contribution to our county’s history.

Mr. George Harding said it correctly when he referred to Dr. Burns as “one character of a kind,” What a character he was! He could make you laugh in a second and you could feel the great love of friendship he gave and received from others.

His ability to make friends with anyone and talk about history was one of his many talents. I really got to know Dr. Burns about 11 years ago when I began setting up the Wilson County Archives. He loved coming by and sharing stories and history about our county. I learned “real fast” that he was the person who knew the answers to many of our questions on anything that happened in this county. His memory was so clear on happenings that you wondered how anyone could be so precise in his quick answers and be correct with dates and names. This was truly a genius mind at work and I will always treasure his memory.

Dr. Burns saw good things for the future by passing on the history of the past, he knew that wealth was always in the form of money. Knowledge of what history can teach you for the future is a powerful treasure and he gave this wealth to our community. I am so grateful that Dr. G. Frank Burns was a part of our community.

Linda GranstaffWilson County Archives DirectorLebanon

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